Chief diversity officer chosen

A.T. Miller joins president’s cabinet in newly created position

Central Michigan University President George E. Ross today announced Andrew Thompson "A.T." Miller has been appointed the university's first chief diversity officer.

Miller has served the past seven years as associate vice provost of academic diversity at Cornell University. He previously had several roles at the University of Michigan, including faculty director of the Center for Global and Intercultural Study and chair of the Council on Global Engagement. He has taught, directed and founded Africana studies programs grounded in the U.S. African-American experience and headed a secondary school in Kenya in the 1980s that now bears his name.

"A.T. brings a wealth of experience working with students, faculty and staff," Ross said. "He will bring together the many perspectives and opportunities we have here at CMU and advance our diversity and inclusion efforts at an elevated level."

The chief diversity officer position, which is a member of the president's cabinet, was a primary recommendation of the 2017 Diversity and Inclusion Task Force.

Katherine Lasher, executive director of the Office of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity and CMU's Title IX coordinator, led the search committee of faculty, staff and students.

"Dr. Miller has both an educator's perspective and that of an administrative leader," Lasher said. "He has worked with students and been a champion for faculty and pedagogy.

"He thinks equally about programming, about curriculum and about the conversations we need to expand across campus. The committee is delighted to have A.T. and his husband, Craig Kukuk, join our university and community," she said.

Miller will begin after Memorial Day. He said his interest in CMU lies in the commitment he saw here to build on existing efforts and the clear determination to weave inclusivity across the campus.

"I've been working in diversity and inclusive practice my whole career," Miller said. "I'm committed to public university education, because that's where most people earn their degrees.

"Diversity and inclusion are responsibilities for all of us, and I look forward to supporting Central's students, faculty and staff."